Tony Stewart to drive 'throwback' car at Southern 500

Tony Stewart announced his No. 14 Coca-Cola Chevrolet's paint scheme will replicate one Bobby Allison drove to wins at the 1971 and '72 Southern 500s.

August 03, 2016

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Stewart is hoping that going old school will change his luck at Darlington Raceway for his final Southern 500.

Stewart announced Wednesday that his No. 14 Coca-Cola Chevrolet will feature a paint scheme that replicates one on the car Bobby Allison drove to wins at the 1971 and 1972 Southern 500s.

Stewart is a three-time NASCAR champion who has won 49 races, but none at Darlington. It is one of only two venues where Stewart is winless in NASCAR's top division.

He is hoping that replicating Allison's paint scheme changes all of that. His best finish at Darlington is third place.

''This is one race that it is a crown jewel that I haven't got yet,'' Stewart said. ''This is my chance to cross one off my list.''

Stewart's throwback look will feature the old Coca-Cola tagline of that era ''The Real Thing'' emblazoned on the car, along with gold wheels and cubic-inch displacement boast on the hood. Stewart said he loves the paint scheme.

Stewart said during a press conference at the NASCAR Hall of Fame that he is proud and honored to drive a car that replicates Allison's paint scheme.

''You want one that you are really passionate about,'' Stewart said. ''This is a paint scheme I am passionate about. When I show up at the track I'm going to be excited about driving this one.''

Stewart plans to retire following the season finale Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami.

Allison won back-to-back races at Darlington in 1971 and 1972, starting from the pole both times. He led 558 of the 734 laps available, including leading all but 38 laps in the 1971 Southern 500. He led a race-high 229 laps the following year in winning another one of his five top series races at Darlington.

''Those red-and-gold Coca-Cola cars were very good to me,'' said Allison, who was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2011. ''From 1970 through 1975, Coca-Cola was on my car and we won a lot of races. We won 11 races in `71, the most I ever had in a single season, and then we came back to win 10 more in `72.''

Allison called Stewart a ''real racer'' who would have fit right in with the drivers that ran during his era. He said watching Stewart drive will bring back some fond memories.

''I know what car I'll be watching in the Southern 500,'' Allison said.

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